Last October we told you about the nascent PreCheck program that TSA was in the process of soft-launching. The airport security pilot program was designed to provide "expedited screening" for some passengers—specifically, those who were willing to provide personal information beforehand—while still ensuring "random and unpredictable security measures" for everyone. The idea was that, on the whole and all things being equal, frequent passengers would be able to get pre-screened and then avail themselves of faster lines at the airport. A little privacy for a lot of convenience.

Now PreCheck is expanding. Originally the program was only available to Delta and American fliers at a limited number of airports, with the eligibility list culled from the rolls of those airlines' frequent fliers. In 2012 you can expect to see the program at more airports—including, finally, LAX and JFK. There will also be new airlines involved, with travelers from US Airways and United joining the program.]]> Omri 2012-01-11T13:47:44-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2012/1/10/22273/6817
Korean Air and Lufthansa A380s snuggle up at JFK Terminal 1

Look, if you're an airport and you want to have the superjumbo Airbus A380 flying in and out, you can't just be like "hey, airlines, bring that big thang on over." Nope. Instead certain preparations must be made to accommodate an airliner of the A380's size and heft. To effectively manage each plane's 500+ passenger load, more jetways are needed, plus support vehicles to reach the upper deck. In some cases, airport runway indicator lights may need to be moved and the tarmac reinforced.

In other words, A380s can't just fly anywhere and, although the massive planes have been in the air since Singapore Airlines took delivery of the very first in 2007, not all that many airports around the world are treated to them. At least some of those are the United States...

US airports where you'll find A380s: ]]> JetSetCD 2012-01-11T09:28:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/6/172037/374

Did you feel that? If the internet could have earthquakes, we'd have just experienced a minor one as Alec Baldwin went from tweeting like normal, to getting kicked off an American Airlines plane at LAX, to being in custody, to becoming a trending topic, to giving his side of the story via Twitter in just about the span of one hour.

The reason for the tarmac takedown? Apparently, according to Alec, he was playing the popular mobile Scrabble-like app Words With Friends when a flight attendant "reamed" him out. Of course he was probably still playing it beyond the point of being asked to turn off and stow all electronic devices for take-off, hence the flight attendant interference. We predict that the next few days will see news channels rehashing the old argument of whether or not cell signals interfere with airplanes. You know, that old chestnut. ]]> JetSetCD 2011-12-06T17:20:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/17/03814/138

It's been a minute or two since we last wrote about location-based social networking site Foursquare and its impact on travel. Does it still have one? You betcha, and with their recent introduction of "expertise badges" and a refresh of the 4sq site, it's high time to reflect a bit; we have, after all, been tapping to "check in" on the app for a solid two years now, leaving priceless tips along the route. Follow us here, by the way.

There are a few things you discover the more you use Foursquare, and we don't just mean which macaron-specializing bakeries are nearest your home (though there's that too, of course). What we mean is that users are overwhelmingly mobile; those truly into Foursquare get around, and they really love checking into, and leaving tips for, airports around the world.]]> JetSetCD 2011-11-17T10:35:03-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/10/13214/767

After weeks apart, Russell Brand waited patiently outside LAX for Katy Perry to arrive home yesterday.

Katy, who has been on tour in the UK, looked out of place getting into the couple's car wearing a long puffy jacket in the warm Los Angeles weather. Alas, it seemed she was more interested in giving her husband a smooch hello than her wardrobe, as she leaned in for a kiss as Russell sat in the driver's seat, ready to go.

The couple will only be together for a few days before Katy is on the road again, this time headed to Connecticut for a November 15th gig. Though they have spent a lot of time apart this year, Russell has planned a romantic New Year's getaway with Katy to make up for lost time.

Apparently, the actor has booked a two-week stay in a private pool-suite at the Aman New Delhi Hotel India, not far from where they were married last year, and not a bad way to start the new year.

[Photo: DailyMail]]]> cmb 2011-11-10T13:02:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/10/28/1462/1678

Responding to criticism like ours over the failure of TSA agents to stop a loaded gun from being checked onto an LAX flight, the security agency leaped into action this week and declared that they will make absolutely no changes to airport security procedures at the airport.

TSA spokesman Nico Melendez explained that there's no danger of having loaded guns in checked baggage, because "no one has access to them." So as long as it's true that loaded guns never ever fire accidentally, you can all go back to feeling safe now.

Speaking of which. A day before we posted about how loaded guns on airplanes make us uncomfortable, we discussed our deep skepticism about the training that TSA agents in charge of "chat-downs" were getting. Chat-downs, remember, are the Israeli-style security line interviews that TSA has been testing out in Boston-Logan and now in Detroit-Metro Airports. Agents ask you personal questions, you give personal answers, and then they read your body language to see if you're lying. In theory.]]> Omri 2011-10-28T14:06:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/10/27/17256/415

It never fails. We'll be at an airport, chilling at a gate awaiting a flight boarding announcement, and every time an Airbus A380 rolls up nearby, other travelers around us will stand and head to the windows for a better look.

There's just something about the double-decker jet, maybe that it's easy to spot or maybe because it's simply so massive that makes people pay attention. Flyers who wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a 737 and a 777 will point and reverently whisper, "that's that new superjumbo. Cooool."

LAX may not have as many airlines arriving with A380s as JFK, but they're inching up there. On the other hand, LAX has only two gates best equipped to service the beasts, so you'll usually know where to find them at the large airport. That'd be gates 101 and 123. Of the 7 airlines currently flying A380s, 3 have routes to LAX. Here's who to look for:]]> JetSetCD 2011-10-27T17:25:06-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/